Hints for bleeding handlebar mounted reservoir hydraulic systems

By Brian Curry

When you are bleeding your front brakes put the bike on the side stand and
swing the handlebars fully to the left. This makes the master cylinder to
the brake fluid reservoir port, and the reservoir the high point of the
system. So, any air bubbles in the hoses to the calipers or the ABS
modulators will migrate to that high point (gravity and density difference
is a good thing.) and out of the system. :):) (You may have to rotate the
grip a bit to keep the reservoir horizontal in one plane.)

Joe Katz (retired wrench) brought this up at the K Tech Session at RA in
MA, but it is applicable to any bike with a handlebar mounted brake fluid
reservoir. So, pay attention R and R11 people. While it is obvious once
you hear it, I had never done it. But I will in the future. :):) Anything
that makes working on brakes easier is a good thing.

In the case of a hydraulic clutch, (K12RS, and R11S) I would put the bike
on the center stand, and turn the handlebars to the right to elevate the
reservoir. (Same principle.)